Combined window regulator and door latch operator



July 5, 1938. H. w. RIGHTMYER COMBINED WINDOW REGULATOR AND DOOR LATCHOPERATOR Filed Dec. 23. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mhw l l l I l l I I l I l|i| July 5, 1938. H. w. RIGHTMYER COMBINED WINDOW REGULATOR AND DOORLATCH OPERATOR Filed Dec. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5,1938 UNITED STATES COMBINED WINDOW REGULATOR .AND

V DOOR LATCH OPERATOR Holden W. Rightmyer, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to TheAmerican Swiss Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 23, 1935, Serial No. 55,734

' 4 Claims. (01. 268-126) This invention relates to vehicle windowregulators and door latches, but more particularly to a device forselectively actuating the window regulator mechanism or door latchmechanism. An object is to produce a single control for selectivelyoperating a vehicle window regulator or a door latch which is simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and utilizes a single handle,which isactuated in the conventional manner for operating the regulatormechanism and enables operation of the door latch mechanismby-depression of a push button or the like without disconnecting thehandle from the regu lator mechanism.

Another object is to produce an operating mechanism for a windowregulator and a door latch embodying a single operating handle which isrotated in the usual manner for operating the regulator, but which uponactuation of the control element ailords actuation of the latchmechanism without disconnecting the handle from the regulator mechanismby utilizing lost motion provided in the regulator mechanism.

A further object is to produce an operator of this character having thenew and improved features of construction, arrangement, and operationhereinafter described, and for purposes of I illustration, but not oflimitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying'3 drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a door embodying aregulator mechanism attached to a vehicle window, a door latch mechanismand showing the single control for selectively operating thesemechanisms;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1showing the control ele- Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sectionalviews showing"the latch operating arm and a portion of theremote control strap innormal position, bolt retracted position and dogging position,respectively;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 9 9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is asectional view on the line Illlll of Figure 7 showing theconnection between the latch retracting arm and link; and

Figure 11 is an elevation showing an alternate form of controlmechanism. I

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a door l0, whichmay be the door of an automobile body having the usual side windowopening (not shown) which is adapted to be closed by the usual glasspanel or window II to the lower edge of which are mounted retainers II.The retainers I2 are provided with longitudinally elongate horizontalguides or channels l3 to receive the usual studs I4 mounted on the freeends of the regulator arms IS. The opposite ends of the arms l5 arefixed to studs l6 vpivotally mounted in a back plate H which is suitablysecured to the door l0. Spiral springs l8 having one end fixed to thestuds l6, and the opposite end secured to the back plate, counterbalancethe weight of the window in the usual manner. Fixed to each of the armsI5 is a gear sector l9, which mesh with each other, one of the gearsectors l9 meshing with a pinion 20, forming part of a clutch mechanism.

The clutch mechanism comprises a U-shaped driven .part 2! to which thepinion 20 is fixed and a substantially V shaped driver 22 having eachend portion disposed between the legs of the U shaped member 2|.Enclosing the parts 2! and 22 is a clutchhousing 23, and disposedbetween the legs of the U shaped driven member and the inside walls ofthe housing is a helically coiled spring 24 having inturned ends 25disposed between a leg of the driving member 22 and a leg of the drivenmember 2i.

From an inspection of Figure 4, it will be apparent that turningmovement of the driving member in either direction operates to contractthe spring 24 and allow it to move with the driving and driven members,a limited amount of lost motion being available between the drivingmemberl! and the driven member 2|, and such lost motion is made useof'in the actuation of the door latch as will hereinafter appear. Itwill be understood that retrograde movement of the pinion 20 isprevented by the clutch, since movement of the driven member 2| ineither direction tends to expand the spring 24 against the walls of thehousing 23. i 4

It is to be understood that the regulator mechanism above described andthe clutch mechanism are oldin the art, and do not form any part of thepresent invention, such showing being merely illustrated to enable theoperating mechanism to be clearly understood.

In accordance with this invention a gear 26 is disposed on the outsideof the clutch housing 23 and is fixed to the driving member 22 forturning movement therewith. Heretofore an operating handle has beenfixed for turning movement with the driving member 22. Consequently, itis possible to adapt clutch mechanisms heretofore in use by changingonly the driving member 22, by

securing thereto the gear 26 instead of the usual squared shank to whichthe handle was ordinarily attached.

The gear 25 meshes with a similar gear 21, which is secured to a stud 28and extends outwardly through the door trim 29 to receive an operatingcrank handle 30 which is fixed to the stud '28.by a key 3|. shoulderedto receive the usual escutcheon 32. It will be apparent that through theconnections described, turning of the handle imparts swinging movementin opposite directions to the regulator arms l5, thereby to raise orlower the window H, as desired, such operation being the usual manner ofactuating the regulator mechanism.

Aslwill hereinafter appear, the handle 30 may also be employed toactuate the door latch mechanism, and although numerous forms of latchmechanisms may be employed, one example is shown on the accompanyingdrawings. The latch mechanism comprises a back plate 33, which issuitably secured to the door adjacent one vertical edge thereof andmounted thereon is a latch bolt having a nose 34, which, whenin'latching position, projects outwardly from the edge of the door. 'Thenose 34 is fixed te a bolt plate 35 which is formed with an outwardlyprojecting ear 36. A spiral spring '31 urges the bolt nose to latchingposition. The latch bolt may be retracted from the outsideof the door bythe usual roll back 38 having a squared handle receiving opening 39. Theroll back 38 may be dogged er held against movement by a slide 40, whichmay be actuated by a key operated cam dl, as will readily be understoodby those skilled in this art.

For retracting the latch boit from the inside of the door, a slide 42engages the outer surface of the bolt plate 35 and has a projection 43eng'ageable with the ear 36 upon rearward movement thereof forretracting the bolt'against the force of the spring 31. The slide 42 maybe moved forwardly relative to the bolt, so that a projection 43 thereofmay be disposed beneath an arm 44 of the roll back 38 for dogging theiatter.

For actuating the slide 42, a remote control link 45 is pi"oted at oneend to the rearward end of the slide and extends rearwardly therefrom,terminating in a downturned rear end portion 46 formed with an elongateslot 41 to receive the head 48 of a rivet 49 secured in' the upper endportion of an arm 50. The head 48 has a lateral extension 5l,-which isdisposed horizontally or.

- at substantially right angles to the slet 41 in the remote controllink 45. structure enables the latch mechanism, which is assembled as aunit with the remote control link 45' in position, to be connected tothe arm 50 in a simple and convenient. manner, it being merely necessaryto fit the slotted end portion of the link over the lateral extension 5|of the rivet, and then turn the remote link to the desired horizontallydisposed position. A spring washer 52 is disposed between the downturnedportion 46 of the remote control link and the arm 50 to eliminaterattles.

The opposite end of the arm 50 is formed with a polygonal opening to fitover a nut 53' for movementtherewith. The nut 53 has a sleeve-likeextension 54 which extends through and has bearing in an opening formedin a cover plate 55, a

The hub of the handle is handle 30. The outer end of the stem 33 isdisposed between the fingers 6|.

y from the stud 23. Disposed normally between the fingers Si is a head62, generally oval in shape," which is secured to a stem 53. The stem 53extends axially through the stud 2! and hub of the handle 30, the outerend portion being disposed within a socket 64 provided in the hub of theformed with screw threads 65 to receive a button 65 and disposed betweenthe undersurface of the button 66 and the bottom of the socket 54 is acoil spring 61. As shown, the button 55 is formed with a plurality ofperipheral notches 68 to receive a special tool to enable the button tobe unscrewed from the stem.

Formed in the nut 53 below the sleeve extension 60 is a cavity 69 whichis formed with an annular row ef serrations flfl. The head 52 of the tofit between pairs of serrations 10 so that upon depression of the button66 the head 62 will be forced to a position such that its opposite endswill be disposed between opposed pairs of serrations 10, although aportion of the head will be When in this position (such as shown inFigure 5) turning movement of the handle 30 will impart correspondingmovement notonly to the stud 28 but to the nut 53 through the fingers BIand plunger head 62, thereby imparting iongitudina'l movement to theremote control link 45 through the arm 50 in one direction or the other.

- Upon movement of the arm 50 in a counterclockwise direction, the latchbolt will be withdrawn by the slide 42 in the manner above described.Upon movement of the arm 53 in a clockwise direction the slide 42 willbe moved forwardly into position to dog the roll back 33. As abovementioned, suflicient lost motion is provided in-the driving clutch forthe regulator mechanism to enable the stud 28 to move in one directionor the other to effect such latch reward position in which the slide 42has been moved, to dogging position.

The form shown in Figure 11 is similar to that above described, exceptthat in place of the arm 50 an arm 50a has a toothed connection 501:with an arm 53:: which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 50d. Thisenables the remote control link 45a to which one end of the arm 500 isconnected to be actuated in a direction opposite to that 01' the arm 5'-by a similar movement of the operating handle 30a. For example, movementof the handle 30 in Figure 1 in one direction will operate to retractthe latch bolt, whereas movement of the handle 30a in Figure 11 in thesame direction operates to move the slide 42 to dogging position. Otherfeatures of this form of mechanism are substantially the same as thoseabove deseribed. I

It is to be understood that numerous changes 75 25 plunger stem 63 hasits opposite ends so shaped as Y 4 and in construction, arrangement. andoperatitlrmaybe efiected without departing from the spirit of theinvention, especially as defined m the appended c I; Whatlclaimis:

J 1. m adevice of the class described having a window regulator providedwith a spring clutch having -a limited amount oi! lost motion and a doorlatch. a gear ior operating the regulator the clutch, a regulatoroperator having a constantly in mesh with said first gear, a handlefixed to said reflulatoroperator, a door latch operator adjacent saidregulator operator,

{connector operable v die" from a point adjacent said handle inconmeeting said regulator and latch operators to em;

.able' conjoint m'ovem'entthereoi, thereby enabling operation 01 thelatch through saidlost motion j without operating the regulator, saidhandle be- M die from a point adjacent said handle for connectingsaid'regulator and latch operators to enabie'eonjoint movement thereof.thereby enabling operation oi the latch through said lost independentlyof said hana connector operable independently or said hane L I 3 motionwithout operating the. regulator, said coninector comprising a springpressed plunger having a head at one end movable into engagement 4 withboth of said operators.

3. In a device of the class described having a window regulator providedwith a spring clutch having a limited amount; of lost motion and a doorlatch, agear'i'or operating the regulator through the clutch, aregulatoroperator having a gear constantly in mesh with said first gear, a

hangle fixed to said regulator operator. a door late and apin extendingcoaxiaily of said handle and regulator. operator, a head on said pinadapted to be moved into engagement with both operators,

and a spring normally holding-said head out oi. operative engagementwith said latch operator.

4 In a mechanism for selectively operating a window regulator providedwith a two-way clutch having a limited amount of lost motion and a doorlatch, a single operating handle mounted for .rotational movements butheldagainat movements in other directions, an operating connectionconstantly established between said handle and regulator for impartingmovements thereto through said clutch upon rotation of the handle in onedirection or the other, operating means for said door latch, and controlmeans operable independently 01' said handle for establishingvanoperative connection between'said handle and latch operating meansthrough the lost motion 0! said clutch without imparting movement tosaid regulator. I HOLDEN w. RIqHTMm,

operator adjacent said regulator operator,

